Most businesses use hazardous materials in their business activities either daily or occasionally. Hazardous waste require special handling. You cannot put it in the dumpster, pour it down the drain or allow it to evaporate into the air. You cannot take it to the transfer station. If you are a business, you cannot take it to a household hazardous waste facility. No matter how little hazardous waste you generate, you need to comply with regulations. Which regulations you must comply with depends on how much waste you produce or store.

The requirements for how to handle hazardous waste are spelled out in the state dangerous waste regulations (Chapter 173-303 WAC). The regulations address how hazardous waste must be stored, handled, transported and disposed. Businesses that produce large amounts of hazardous waste must comply with more requirements than businesses that produce small amounts.

The specific procedures for designating waste are found in the dangerous waste regulations, WACs 173-303-070 through 173-303-100. Dangerous waste numbers are listed in WACs 173-303-090, 173-303-104, and 173-303-9903 - 9904. The dangerous waste numbers are codes that correspond to the hazardous properties in the waste. For example, D008 means the waste contains lead; WT02 means the waste is toxic; D002 means the waste is corrosive.

King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program provides information about:

• Materials and products that are considered hazardous.

• How to dispose of hazardous products used at your business including paint, fluorescent lamps, car wash water, photo fixer, etc.

• Choosing a hazardous waste vendor

To find additional services that are also available for businesses generating hazardous waste, please visit our Links page.